What is 95 Express?
95 Express will reduce congestion on I-95 by introducing express lanes and Bus Rapid Transit service from I-395 in downtown Miami to Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

How will 95 Express operate?
95 Express will operate as High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, separated from regular traffic lanes, that drivers can choose to use when their time is more valuable than the toll they might pay. Tolls will fluctuate, the goal being to keep traffic in the lanes moving at a speed of approximately 50 miles per hour. Emergency vehicles, registered vanpools, registered carpools of 3+, registered hybrid vehicles and motorcycles can use the lanes without paying a toll. Buses of several types can also use the lanes toll free -- Miami-Dade and Broward County express and regular transit, public school and over-the-road. Trucks will not be allowed to use the express lanes.

Computer Rendering of 95 Express Lanes

Why use 95 Express
The project will provide a new choice for consistent and dependable travel conditions during rush hour. South of the Golden Glades Interchange, I-95 carries over 290,000 vehicles per day, with traffic volumes expected to exceed 360,000 vehicles per day by year 2030. It is cost prohibitive to widen the corridor, so congestion management strategies must be explored.

Project Overview
95 Express is one of several FDOT operational improvements designed to reduce congestion and make I-95 a better experience for drivers, residents, and transit users alike. Ultimately, 95 Express will create more travel options and encourage use of public transportation and carpooling. The goal is to keep traffic moving at approximate a minimum speed of 50 miles per hour, while offering transit riders a seamless connection between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties on 95 Express buses. Even drivers not using 95 Express will see improved travel times and conditions in the existing general purpose lanes.

About 95 Express Project - Video
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Emergency vehicles, registered vanpools, registered carpools of 3+, registered hybrid vehicles and motorcycles can use the lanes without paying a toll. Buses of several types can also use the lanes toll free -- Miami-Dade and Broward County express and regular transit, public school and over-the-road. Trucks will not be allowed to use the express lanes. Vanpools, carpools and hybrids can register their vehicles with South Florida Commuter Services. 

Other vehicles can use 95 Express by paying a toll with SunPass. The amount will be clearly posted on overhead signs. Because the tolls will be collected electronically, toll-paying drivers will need to own and display a SunPass transponder which can be purchased at Publix, CVS Pharmacies, Turnpike service plazas. Click here to purchase a SunPass transponder.

South Florida Commuter Services (SFCS) – is the regional commuter assistance program funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  SFCS is registration process pertaining to the 95 Express Lanes Project.  Eligible non-toll users of the managed lanes will consist of 3+ passenger carpools, hybrid vehicles and South Florida Vanpools.

1. 3+ Carpool Registration - Three passenger carpools are defined as at least three commuters traveling to and from work in one vehicle.  All eligible 3+ passenger carpools will register with SFCS.  This registration will provide users a “95 Express” decal that will allow them to use the 95 Express lanes without incurring any toll costs.  The registration process is as follows:

Step 1:  Registrants can visit the SFCS website at
www.1800234ride.com or call 1-800-234-RIDE to register for the
program.

Step 2:  SFCS will send them the appropriate “95 Express”
registration form .  The registration form requests: name,
home address, work address, home/work phone numbers, work
schedule, driver license number, license plate number, and state of
registration.

All carpool participants must sign the carpool registration form prior to submitting it to SFCS acknowledging that the information they provided is accurate. All personal information, including home address and home phone number, submitted to SFCS will only be used to register a carpool and provide 95 Express Lanes information and/or decal to the user.  Personal information will be kept confidential and is only accessible by SFCS and SunPass and will only be used for the 95 Express Lanes carpool registration.

If a participant plans on using their personal vehicle in the carpool, they are required to provide their license number and tag information; if they are only a rider in the carpool, SFCS will only need their home/work information. The maximum number of decals that can be requested by a carpool is one per individual in the carpool.  The 3+ 95 Express Decal is valid for six months. Carpool participants will receive a renewal request.   

The carpool participant will be provided two reminders to renew their registration with SFCS.  If a carpool participant does not renew with SFCS, the participant will be placed in an “inactive status” and SunPass will be notified to remove their license plate from the eligible list. If other participants in the carpool continue their registration and have at least three members in their carpool, they will still be considered an active carpool.

Hybrid vehicle drivers will be sent a yearly renewal based on anniversary date of initial request.  A registrant will be provided two reminders to renew their registration with SFCS.  If a registrant does not renew following the second renewal notice, SFCS will notify Sunpass and inactivate the profile of the user.

95 Express Lanes will be used by South Florida Vanpools for commuting purposes only. The 95 Express Lanes Decal will remain active as long as the South Florida Vanpool continues to be part of the South Florida Vanpool program.

NOTE:
If you wish to use the 95 Express lanes without your carpool partners, you are required to have a SunPass transponder in the vehicle to pay for the tolls.  If you currently have a SunPass transponder and are using the 95 Express lanes with your carpool partners, you must either remove the transponder from the windshield and place it in the silver shield bag or use the tag disabler shield if you have a SunPass Mini tag. It is your responsibility to properly shield the transponder when you have your carpool passengers with you, or the tolls will be charged to your pre-paid SunPass account. 

A major component of 95 Express will be the implementation of expanded and new Express/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services that will provide a seamless connection without transfers for commuters riding the bus between Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization and Broward County Transit (BCT) are proposing a Bus Rapid Transit system on US 441/SR 7, a corridor which presently has a bus route running to the I-95 Golden Glades Park-n-Ride lot in northern Miami-Dade. Currently, riders transfer at this location to Miami-Dade Transit 95 Express buses, which provide service to downtown Miami on the congested I-95 HOV lanes. With the introduction of BRT and the implementation of express lanes, there will be no need to transfer at the Golden Glades and commuting time will be cut in half, which could have the effect of putting twice as many buses on the road.

The toll schedule for the express lanes specifies a variable toll for vehicles that do not contain registered carpools of three or more and toll exemption for registered car pools, motorcycles, registered hybrid vehicles, transit buses, over-the-road motor coaches, South Florida Vanpools and Miami-Dade and Broward County School Buses. The toll will fluctuate throughout the day to keep 95 Express from being congested with vehicles. The concept of express lanes is based on congestion pricing, which means the toll goes up or down depending on the traffic volume. The toll will be higher during peak periods when demand is greater and lower during non-peak periods when the demand is less. This congestion pricing monitors the number of vehicles accessing the express lanes and keeps traffic flowing freely. If travel speeds in 95 Express lanes start to slow and fall below 50 miles per hour, the toll will increase to maintain a free flowing condition.

Tolls will vary and are likely to be between 25¢ and $2.50 from the Golden Glades Interchange to downtown Miami.

 The toll schedule for the express lanes specifies a variable toll for vehicles that do not contain registered carpools of three or more and a free toll for registered car pools, motorcycles, registered hybrid vehicles, transit buses, and over-the-road motor coaches.  insert South Florida Vanpools and Public County School Buses in paragraph Vehicles not transporting registered carpools – These vehicles must maintain and display a SunPass transponder

Vehicles not displaying the transponder will be detected by the toll gantry equipment, the license plate photographed, and an Unpaid Toll Notice (UTN) issued for failure to pay a toll. Failure to resolve the UTN will result in a citation. .

Vehicles exempt from tolls (registered carpools, motorcycles, registered hybrid vehicles, transit buses, and over-the-road coaches) – These vehicles should not display a SunPass transponder. If they own a SunPass transponder it will be their responsibility to remove and place in protective shield bag, or they will be charged the toll rate in effect. Instead, they will display a 95 Express decal , mounted in the front windshield, issued by South Florida Commuter Services.  The decal certifies he vehicle is eligible to travel 95 Express toll-free.
As the vehicle passes under the toll gantry, the system will detect a toll violation and photograph the license plate.  A backroom operation will match the license plate to the list of registered toll-exempt vehicles and void the citation.

Click here for more Toll Violation Enforcement Information

Ramp signals are an important traffic management technique designed to keep traffic flowing on the freeways and help reduce crashes.  With traffic congestion constantly increasing, sound management of the region’s transportation system is vital to the movement of people and goods throughout the region.

Ramp Signals are traffic signals at freeway on-ramps that control the rate of vehicles entering the highway.  The signals can be set for different flow rates to optimize traffic flow and minimize congestion.  When in operation, ramp signals will alternate between red and green lights, restricting the number of vehicles entering the freeway, thereby reducing congestion, bottlenecks and managing the traffic flow on the mainline.

How Does Ramp Signaling Work?

Some drivers will wait slightly longer to enter the interstate. Traffic, however, will be much smoother and speeds will increase, allowing most people to experience an overall reduction in travel time.

Enforcement of Ramp Signaling will occur as part of the 95 Express program.  If a driver runs the light, they can be charged with “failure to obey a traffic control device.”

The 95 Express reflects a growing national trend where urban areas are converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into HOT (High Occupancy Toll) facilities. The Express Lanes concept has been very successful in other metropolitan areas throughout the country including: